BEING A DEANERY SYNOD REP
DEANERY SYNOD BACKGROUND
Deaneries are groups of Anglican parishes in a geographical area – Yardley and Solihull deanery is our deanery.
All Licensed Clergy in the Deanery are automatically members of the Deanery Synod. Deanery Synods also have Lay Members ordinary members of the congregations who are elected every three years at the annual church meeting.
Deanery Synods are formal meetings, which are mainly for information and discussion about mission and ministry in the area. Occasionally they are required to take formal decisions, sometimes by means of a vote. Crucially, the Lay representatives form the electorate for the House of Laity on the Diocesan and General Synod.
Deaneries form an important bridge between parishes and the wider church, including the Diocese.
Deanery Synod lay representatives are ex officio members of the PCC, so they will bring their skills to the PCC as well.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
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Deanery Synods exist to serve the witness and mission of the wider Church and so need to be able to take strategic decisions to advance mission and ministry in the Deanery and the Diocese.
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Deanery Synod meetings are concerned with seeking God’s will for the mission of the Church in the Deanery and so they need to be Christ centred, prayerful and open to the Spirit speaking through all.
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It is important that the Deanery Synod, as any representative body, broadly reflects the diversity of all the congregations – in gender, ethnic origin, age, experience etc.
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Deaneries are entering a new phase and need fresh ideas.
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Deanery Synod representatives are enthusiastic about the potential for changing the
role and effectiveness of Deaneries and participate in the meetings 1
AS A LAY REPRESENTATIVE DO YOU HAVE OR COULD YOU DEVELOP SOME OF THE FOLLOWING QUALITIES?
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A vision and passion for the wider church to flourish
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Committed to work with others in prayer, listening and study to seek God’s will for
mission in the Deanery
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Able to think and act strategically – able to see the role of your own parish within
the bigger picture and understand and accept differences of view
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Committed to mission, growth and engagement across boundaries
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Open to new/different approaches and willing to listen to and learn from others,
share ideas and experience and embrace change
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Able to speak confidently and challenge in a respectful way
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Able to provide inspiring feedback to your PCC/congregation
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Committed, reliable and able to see things through
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE
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A SAINT
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A THEOLOGIAN
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AN EXPERT
Though nobody will mind if you are! Thank you
Stuart Dimes Vicar